Plant setter



Sept. 13, 1932. VE.,1 .M/ \sTERs PLANT SETTER Filed oct. e. 195o Patented Sept. 13, 1932 UNlTiezD -STATES EDWIN L. MASTERS, or CHICAGO, ILLINOIS PLANT SETTER Y Application mea october 6, 1930. serial No. `4.863106.

This invention relates generally to that class of devices known as plant setters, r the like, andparticularly to a. device for setting and planting tobacco, cabbage, tomatoes,

and similar plants, that are usually rst grown in beds and later transplanted and set in a field for further development.

The present invention relates particularly to novel means for actuating the valve which YJ controls the supply of water used in conjunction with the operation of the setter, and also to means for actuating the shovels associated therewith.

Among other objects, the Vpresent .inven- 15? tion is intended to provide novel means for conveniently and effectively controlling the water valve and shovels employed in the operation of the setter, and also to Aimprove devices Vof the character disclosed in sundry 'c details hereinafter described and particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

The present invention is in the nature of an improvement over the device shown and described in United States Letters Patent No. 1,120,211 issued December 8, 1914 in the name of Joseph H. Masters, deceased, by

Clarissa C. Masters, eXecutriX of the estate of said Joseph H. Masters.

One embodiment of the invention is shown for illustrative purposes in the accompanying drawing, in which A Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a plant setter embodying features of the present invention; Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional elevation of the plant setter shownv in Fig. 1, and taken substantially as indicated by the line 2 2 thereof; and

Fig. 3 is a sectional plan view taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

In the illustrative embodiment of the invention, casing members 4 and 5 are connected to form a reservoir 6 adapted to accommodate a considerable quantity of water, and also to make the device of convenient height "or length when carried as hereinafter described.

Secured to the lower end of the member 4 is a shovel 7, and pivotally secured to the shovel 1 Q0 terior ofthe members 4 and 5, and arranged to discharge between the shovels 7 and 9 is a plant tube 10 which is preferably open atl the bottom and below the partition 11 which forms the bottomvof the water reservoir. 6

In the bottom of the reservoir is formed a 55:

discharge opening or outlet 12 -normally closed by a valve 13 which may be conveniently actuatedfor'controlling the discharge of water from thel reservoir. Secured to the valve 13 is a rod 14 havingits upper end ad- 60 justably screw-threaded into a sleeve 15 and a resilient arm 16 positioned adjacent the up-v` per end of the casing member 5 forming a part of the reservoir 6. The upper end of the rod 14 is also provided with a jam nut 17 by 65' which the rod may be securedV in its adjusted position and held against accidental displacement or turning with respect to the arm 16. If desired, however, the screw-threaded end of the rod 14 may be slidably mounted in 70v apertures formed in. the sleeve 15 and arm 16, and secured in adjusted position with respect thereto by means of the nut 17 above the sleeve and a nut 17a at the un dersideof the sleeve.

`The resilient arm 16, inthep'resent con- 75 struction, is secured at one of its end portions to the side of the casing member by means of a nut 18 and is formed adjacent its fixed end with a coil 19 for providing suitable spring action v'to normally hold thevalve `13 snugly 80 Y against the seat `12 of the reservoir to prevent the escape of .watertherefrom.`

' Pivotally mounted on a rod or pivot member 20 adjacent the upper end of the reservoir 6 is a ring 21 positioned within the member 5 85' in a manner to provide a clearance between Y the ring Vand member, and rigidly secured to.

the ring 21 at opposite 'sides thereof, remote` fromV the pivotal connections, are the end or Y, bale portions 22 forming a part of a handle 23 90 by which the plant setter may be carried and manipulated when in operation. It willbe noted that the grip portion of the handleA is inclined at an angle to the reservoir'and ring 21, thereby `providing for convenient and comfort-able grasping by the operator in a7 manner to require but'slight wrist movement to tilt the handle about itspivotal connection. The shovel 9 is-normally maintained in closed position or in engagement with the 109 shovel 7 by any suitable resilient means such, for example, as a spring 24 having a loop 25 formed adjacent its central portion and adapted to beengaged and held against the casing member 4 by means oi a bracket 26, while the outer or free-ends of the spring may be bent over the edge of theshovel 9 asindicated at 27 in a manner to urge the lower end of the shovel 9 toward the fixed shovel 7.

For conveniently actuating the shoyel'elements to move the shovel 9 away fromfthe shovel 7 in a manner to permit the depositing of a plant in an opening formed in the ground Y an arrangement, a slight tilting of the handle 23 .and ring 21 about the pivot member 20 in a.

counter-clockwise direction, as viewed in Fig.V 2, will exert a pull on the connecting members 29 and 30, and through theirconnection with the arm 28 will cause the shovel9 to Abe moved outwardly away from the shovel 7, thereby providing an opening through which a plant may be deposited into the hole previously Y formed by the insertion of shovels 7 and 9 into the ground. p,

For'actuating the valve 13 in amanner to permit Awater to flow from thereservoir 6 during the plant setting operation,rthe resilient arm 16 is provided adjacent its free end with an upturnedportion 32 having a collar V33 secured thereto adapted to beenlgaged by .an inwardly extending Vprojection 34 carried by the ring 21. and movable therewith.`Y It will be noted that by such an arrangement, the tilting of lthe handle 23 and ring 21 in a clockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 2 will cause the projection 34 to engage the collar 33 andmove .thefree end of the arm 16 downwardly, and by reason of its connection with the valve 13 throughthe rod 14, the valve will be moved downwardly-and out of, engagement withl the seat 12, thereby permitting a desired quantity of water to liow from the reservoir and into the space between the .shovels 7 and 9`where the plant is depositedin the ground.

It will be observed from the foregoing de-V scription that in operating or manipulating the plant setter, the device may be comfortably carried, and by a slight movement of the handle in one direction, will cause a suitable y quantity vof water tobe deposited betweenthe shovels 7 and 9, and that a slight movement of thehandle23 inthe opposite direction willy serve to sepa-rate the shovels and'permit a plant to be deposited inthe ground.VV j f i In the operation of the plant setter above described, the operator presses downwardly upon the handle 23 so as to force the shovels 7 and 9 a desired depth into the ground. When the soil is loose or in a most favorable condition, the weight of the setter when about two-thirds fullrof water will be sufficient to make a hole in the ground or suitable depth l for ordinary setting. The handleV 23 and ring 21 are then moved in a clockwise direc.

tion (see Fig.'2) about the pivot member 2O in a manner to open the valve 13 and permit water from the reservoir to pass downwardly7 into the groundbetween the shovels 7 and 9. The plant is then droppeddown the plant tube 10 to enter and be positioned between the planter jaws or shovels and the operator then lifts the device, at the same time moving the handle 23 and ring 21 Vin the opposite, or counter-clockwise direction, thereby moving the shovel 9 away from the shovel 7 and permitting the plant to remain in the ground at the bottom of the hole. vThe operator may then kick the dirt on top of the roots, or if desired, may cover the base of the plant by.

giving the setter a slight turn when the lips 35 and 36 formed on the shovels 7 qand 9,

respectively, will act to scoop the-dirt into the hole and cover the roots of the plant.

Obviously, the present invention is not limited tothe precise construction and arrangement shown and described as the same may be variously modilied.v Moreover, all vthe fea? tures Vor the invention need not be used conjointly as the samemay be used to advanta e in various different combinations and su combinations. v

What I claim as new and desire to cover'by Letters Patent is: 'i Y ,1. In a plant setter, the combinationof a casing comprising a reservoir, a pair of relatively movable hole forming shovels mounted on said casing, a handlemovably mounted on said casing, a valve positioned inV said reservoir, meansfor actuating one of said shovels, and means operatively related to said valve and handle for actuating the valve bythe movement of said handle. 1i 2. In av plant'setter, the-combination of casing comprising a reservoir, a pair of relatively-movablehole forming shovels mounted on said casing, a handle movably'mounted on forming shovels mounted on said easing, oneV of said shovels being movable withrespect to the other, a valve positioned in said reservoir, a handle mounted on said casing and movable with ,respectY thereto, andmeans operatively related to said valve and movable shovel and to said handle for actuating the valve and shovel by the movement of said handle.

4. In a plant setter, the combination of a `5. In a plant setter, the combination of aV casing comprising a reservoir, a pair of hole forming shovels mounted on said casing, one of said shovels being movable with respect to and independently of the other, a valve positioned in said reservoir, a handle mounted on said casing and movable with respect thereto, means operatively related to said movable shovel and handle forl actuating said shovel to form a plant receiving hole by the movement of said handle in one direction, and means operatively related to said valve and handle for actuating the valve by the movement of said handle in another direction.

6. In a plant setter, the combination of a casingV comprising a reservoir, a pair of hole forming shovels mounted on said casing, one of said shovels being movable with respect to the other, a valve positioned in said reservoir, a handle pivotally mounted on said casing, means operatively related to said movable shovel and handle for actuating said shovel by the movement of said handle in one direction, and means operatively related to said valve and handle for actuating the valve by the movement of said handle in the opposite direction.

7 In a plant setter, the combination of a easing comprising a reservoir, a pair of hole forming shovels mounted on and adjacent the lower end of said casing, one of said shovels being movable with respect to the other, a

shovel, and means operatively related to said handle and arm Jfor actuating said valve.

9. In a plant setter, the combination of a casing c-omprising a reservoir, a pair of shovels mounted adjacent the lower end of said casing, one of said shovels being movable with respect to the other, a valve positioned in said reservoir, Aa yieldable spring actuated arm adjustably connected to said valve ina manner to hold the valve on its seat, a handle pivotally mounted on said casing and inclined normally at an angle with respect to the longitudinal center line thereof, means operatively related to said handle for actuating said movable shovel, and means movable with said handle and cooperable with said arm for opening said valve.

Y l0. In a plant setter,the` combination of a casing comprising a reservoir, a pair of shovels mounted adjacent the lower end of said casing, one of said shovels being movable with respect to the other, a valve positioned in said reservoir, a resilient arm mounted on said casing and adjustably connected to said valve, a ring pivotally mounted on said casing within the upper end thereof, a handle rigidly mounted on said ring and positioned at an angle with respect thereto, an inwardly extending projection carried by said ring and cooperable with the free end of said arm for opening said valvewhen the handle is moved in one direction, and means including a ilexible element operatively connected to said.

movable shovel and handle for actuating said shovel when the handle is moved in the op-V posite direction.

In witness whereof I hereunto subscribe my name this 24th day of September A. D., 1930.

EDWIN L. MASTERS.

valve positioned in said reservoir, an arm mounted on said casing and operatively connected to said valve, a handle mounted on said casing and movable with respect thereto, means for actuating said movable shovel, and means operatively related to said handle and arm for actuating said valve. p

8. In a plant setter, the combination of a casing comprising a reservoir, a pair of hole forming shovels mounted on and adjacent the lower end of said casing, one of said shovels being movable with respect to the other, a valve positioned in said reservoir, a resilient arm mounted on said casing and operatively connected to said valve, a handle pivotally mounted on said casing, means including a flexible element for actuating said movable itsV 

